Suggestions on an IPOD/MP3 player attachment?

[TheBrooklynZoo]

im lookin to get an attachment/transmitter or whatever theyre called, so i can connect an mp3 player and listen to my music. i dont want those expensive kits that get built in, just looking for something simple. I came across THIS (http://www.buy.com/prod/harman-kardon-drive-play-in-vehicle-ipod-interface-control-system/q/loc/111/202426763.html#cRevSec), but im a little hesitant cuz it looks like i have to screw it in place and i would rather have something that i can simply detach and store away or in the glove. Any suggestions?

[bansheeman]

I say go with the dice kit if you don't mind loosing your cd changer. Its the best thing music wise I've ever done to my car. Worth every penny and super easy to install.

[burnowt]

you have a link for the dice kit??

[chris98891]

http://www.bavariansoundwerks.com/product/514/282/BMW-E46-iPod-Kit-by-DICE/

DEFINITELY the best option we have.

aside from that, drive +play is your best option, as you can actually cut into the FM antenna and get muuuch better reception. ive tried a few FM transmitters in ours cars, and they are sh1t. terrible reception anywhere outside of the back seat

EDIT: also, get the spec doc. i recommend it out of sheer badassity.

[wdeerfield]

^ what he said.. ive got the dice and the spec dock.. best mod for my car by far!

[TheBrooklynZoo]

what makes somethin like the dice kit better than the drive+play kit?

[Red 90]

what makes somethin like the dice kit better than the drive+play kit?

Dice Kit:
You won't have any additional displays or controls
You use your steering wheel controls
Sound quality is direct from the head unit
Cost more than the drive+play kit
Dice kit is a bit glitchy IMHO, however I've never used the HK system so it might be just as bad.

HK Drive+Play:
Sound through the FM transmitter sucks
You can use an aux 3.5mm jack, but you need to add the aux input on your stock head unit +35 bucks
You need to find a place to put the display and plug into your lighter adapter. Or you need to hardwire it. Dice is plug and play and completely reversible.

[Kert]

I bought my car with the HK Drive+Play kit and it works and sounds great! The previous owner had it installed, so I dont know what the installation was like. I didnt even know that it had an IPOD and Aux adapter untill I dug into my glove box. You can see the screen and the control nodule in the attachment. The control thingy work just like an Ipod does, thats the main thing I like about it, but on the downside, it is a little fragle and feels like it could break very easy. All in all I am happy with it.:thumbsup:

[habbyguy]

My vote is for the Dice unit - like others have mentioned, you will have the occasional text lockup, but the utility of having gigabytes of music safely stored in your trunk is worth the cost, IMHO. The install of the Dice unit is easier than the direct connection cables (which require tearing into your dash).

[tom @ eas]

im lookin to get an attachment/transmitter or whatever theyre called, so i can connect an mp3 player and listen to my music. i dont want those expensive kits that get built in, just looking for something simple. I came across THIS (http://www.buy.com/prod/harman-kardon-drive-play-in-vehicle-ipod-interface-control-system/q/loc/111/202426763.html#cRevSec), but im a little hesitant cuz it looks like i have to screw it in place and i would rather have something that i can simply detach and store away or in the glove. Any suggestions?

There's no reason for the ashtray docks, they add nothing but additional cost. This is the kit you need:

DICE - SILVERLINE iPod Integration Kit for 3 Series/M3 99-06 (Trunk Interface)
http://www.europeanautosource.com/product_info.php?products_id=1621

The DICE iPod Kit will integrate perfectly with your BMW and offer steering wheel control as well as ID3 text and charging of your iPod. Full CD Quality can be expected after installation. There's even an integrated AUX port for other devices.

New features of DICE SILVERLINE iPod Integration kit include:

- Direct integrated connection, without the need for FM transmitters or cassette adapters
- Full Text Display on your factory radio or Navigation screen
- Full control of your iPod via the radio buttons while in play
- Browse by Individual Song
- Browse by Individual Playlist
- Browse by Individual Albums
- Source Selector w/ Integrated AUX input
- Album Selection
- Full charging mode for iPods through included dock connector

The kit will come with everything needed w/ the docking cable. The iPod can be safely stored away in the glove compartment for 100% stealth installation and accessed completely from the steering wheel controls. The DICE comes with a 15-foot cable length to reach anywhere in the vehicle you like. We have tutorials at the following links:

http://www.europeanautosource.com/support-center/index.php

Let me know if you have any further questions.

[DADON4SHO]

I bought my car with the HK Drive+Play kit and it works and sounds great! The previous owner had it installed, so I dont know what the installation was like. I didnt even know that it had an IPOD and Aux adapter untill I dug into my glove box. You can see the screen and the control nodule in the attachment. The control thingy work just like an Ipod does, thats the main thing I like about it, but on the downside, it is a little fragle and feels like it could break very easy. All in all I am happy with it.:thumbsup:

I JUST ORDER THAT!!!!!!
how is it plugged in? trough an aux or fm transmitter?

[Red 90]

There's no reason for the ashtray docks, they add nothing but additional cost. This is the kit you need:

DICE - SILVERLINE iPod Integration Kit for 3 Series/M3 99-06 (Trunk Interface)
http://www.europeanautosource.com/product_info.php?products_id=1621

The DICE iPod Kit will integrate perfectly with your BMW and offer steering wheel control as well as ID3 text and charging of your iPod. Full CD Quality can be expected after installation. There's even an integrated AUX port for other devices.

http://www.europeanautosource.com/support-center/index.php

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Well, I wouldn't say CD quality sound. Like any other MP3 player, when you shrink the files down to 5-6 Mb, there is a noticable deterioration in quality. Not as bad as FM sound, but not as good as CD. IMHO, the benefits of the IPOD music outweight the differences in the CD sound. My biggest gripe on the sound quality is the lack of base. Haven't figured how to gain that back.

[tom @ eas]

Well, I wouldn't say CD quality sound. Like any other MP3 player, when you shrink the files down to 5-6 Mb, there is a noticable deterioration in quality. Not as bad as FM sound, but not as good as CD. IMHO, the benefits of the IPOD music outweight the differences in the CD sound. My biggest gripe on the sound quality is the lack of base. Haven't figured how to gain that back.

That's a result of the compression used in the music file, not the DICE.

Apple's Lossless compression seems to be the best.

[Red 90]

That's a result of the compression used in the music file, not the DICE.

Apple's Lossless compression seems to be the best.

I didn't say it was a result of the DICE. However I think you were stretching the selling point to expect CD Quality sound. I agree that Apple does do a good job of the compression and minimizes the audible differences.

[Kert]

I JUST ORDER THAT!!!!!!
how is it plugged in? trough an aux or fm transmitter?

To be honest, I have no idea. As I said before, it was installed in the car when I bought it, and all of the cables are hidden in the dash. You can see where the cables go underneath the trim. The Aux plug and the Ipod adapter are hidden in the glove box. I have never pulled out my radio to see where it is plugged in. But i can say that the sound quality is phenomenal! It sounds just like in does in Windows. When you install yours, let me know where i plugs into.

[habbyguy]

I didn't say it was a result of the DICE. However I think you were stretching the selling point to expect CD Quality sound. I agree that Apple does do a good job of the compression and minimizes the audible differences.

+1

It's actually inaccurate to advertise "CD-quality", when by definition, it isn't, and can't be. It's true to say that for the vast majority of us most the time, the Ipod-compressed music is "good enough" for cruising around in our E46s... but as someone who runs pro sound systems regularly, believe me when I say it's not at ALL hard to tell the difference between a CD and an Ipod when it's connected to a really nice sound system.

[chris98891]

haaa my dice definitely isnt cd quality...

the constant "tick tick tick" i get every now any then reminds me of that. and to OP, i wouldnt recommend silverline, see if you can get the originial model. the silverline won't let you control from the ipod AND have song titles on the HU, its an either or.

and MAKE SURE when you run the wire you are VERYYY careful to avoid any electrical interference. the plastic box of dice and the poorly shielded wiring are susceptible to electrical interference. not deadly, just be careful

[Red 90]

haaa my dice definitely isnt cd quality...

the constant "tick tick tick" i get every now any then reminds me of that. and to OP, i wouldnt recommend silverline, see if you can get the originial model. the silverline won't let you control from the ipod AND have song titles on the HU, its an either or.

and MAKE SURE when you run the wire you are VERYYY careful to avoid any electrical interference. the plastic box of dice and the poorly shielded wiring are susceptible to electrical interference. not deadly, just be careful

One way to avoid interference is to do the head unit install rather than the trunk cable install. To me there seems to be a lot of unneccessary wiring with the trunk cable install. The stock Headunit has the CD Changer cable running all the way to the trunk, then you attach the Dice cable and run it all the way back to the front. It just makes it more likely to have interference and loss of sound quality.

[TheBrooklynZoo]

I bought my car with the HK Drive+Play kit and it works and sounds great! The previous owner had it installed, so I dont know what the installation was like. I didnt even know that it had an IPOD and Aux adapter untill I dug into my glove box. You can see the screen and the control nodule in the attachment. The control thingy work just like an Ipod does, thats the main thing I like about it, but on the downside, it is a little fragle and feels like it could break very easy. All in all I am happy with it.:thumbsup:

hey are those units screwed into the car?